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Secretaries’ Digital and Data Committee communique 

Date: 13 March 2025  

Strategic Discussion: Enabling Service Delivery

Enabling Service Delivery

Members discussed opportunities for accelerating the transformation of service delivery through data and digital advancements, including artificial intelligence. This included a focus on ensuring digital services are accessible and inclusive and reinforcing whole-ofgovernment approaches

Barriers to transforming connected service delivery

Members noted the key insights following discovery into the legislative barriers which inhibit progress towards more connected and customer-centred service delivery. Members discussed the progress to date and agreed to collaborate with Services Australia and the Department of Finance to explore and identify opportunities to better connect government services, across all channels, through enhanced digital capabilities and increased data sharing.

Improving the customer digital experience 

Members noted the DTA will develop a digital experience (DX) baseline of Australian Government digital services. This will enable the subsequent measurement of whole-of-government DX to improve the quality of digital service delivery. 

Digital ID – Commonwealth Plan to increase adoption across services

Members discussed adoption of Digital ID across Commonwealth agencies and work to consider data management and retention practices across government services

July to December 2024 SDDC Performance Report

Members endorsed the SDDC performance report for the period 1 July – 31 December 2024 for submission to the Secretaries Board.

DDMM 2025 Workplan

Members noted the Data and Digital Ministers Meeting 2025 Workplan and work underway to maintain momentum on data sharing across all jurisdictions and between agencies for major projects.

A campus approach to APS technology skills uplift

Members noted a multi-disciplinary team has been stood up with representatives from across the Australian Public Service (APS) to conduct discovery work to inform development of a pilot for a campus approach to uplift APS skills in the domains of Data, Digital and Cyber. 

Update on the scheduled Statutory Review of the Data Availability and Transparency ACT 2022 

Members noted the update by the Department of Finance regarding the scheduled Statutory Review of the Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022 in 2025.

Digital Leadership Committee 

Members noted the Digital Leadership Committee 2024 Annual Performance Report.

Deputy Secretaries Data Group and Digital Leadership Committee performance reports

Members endorsed the Deputy Secretaries Data Group 2024 Annual Performance Report and its Terms of Reference for 2025.

The date for the next SDDC meeting is 19 June 2025.

Secretaries’ Digital and Data Committee communique 

Date:  12 December 2024

Strategic Discussion: Data and Digital Government Strategy (DDGS)

DDGS Update

Members noted the update on implementation of the DDGS including release of the 2024 Implementation Plan. Members discussed progress and opportunities to build data and digital capability in the Australian Public Service (APS) to achieve the Government’s vision under the Strategy. 

Data and Digital Professions Annual Update 

Members noted the update provided by the Heads of the Data and Digital Professions and commended them on the achievements to date. Members agreed that the APS Professions provide a valuable contribution to the uplift of APS capability and effectiveness. 

Whole of APS Report from Data Maturity Assessment Tool 

Members noted finalisation of the 2024 Data Maturity assessments and discussed how agencies should use the results to support implementation of the DDGS. 

Draft Secretaries Digital and Data Committee (SDDC) Forward Work Program 2025 

Members agreed the draft 2025 SDDC Forward Work Program, subject to minor amendments, and noted it will be updated throughout 2025 as required.  

Integrated Digital Investment Plan Update

Members considered the Integrated Digital Investment Plan Pipeline Overview and Insights 
Report (IDIP Insights Report) and discussed the challenges associated with the digital 
workforce, systems reaching end of life and legacy systems. Members agreed the next IDIP Insights Report will be considered in the second quarter of 2025, consistent with the twice yearly timing agreed at the 27 November 2023 SDDC meeting. The Committee noted the 
IDIP Insights Report supports Secretaries’ decision-making on the priority of investments, 
capability uplift, and reuse across the APS.

Governance of Indigenous Data update

Members noted the 1 January 2025 start date for implementation of the Framework for Governance of Indigenous Data (GID), and that the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) anticipates providing updates to the Committee twice a year to support high-level oversight of GID Framework implementation. Members noted the NIAA’s support for implementation across the APS including an operational-level community of practice.

APS Data, digital and Cyber Workforce Plan: Exposure Draft  

Members discussed the draft APS Data, Digital, and Cyber Workforce Plan. Consideration was given to potential sponsoring agencies to lead implementation of specific workforce planning initiatives. The Workforce Plan will be presented to the SDDC for formal endorsement in early 2025. 

Future of Transactional Processing Arrangements 

Members endorsed the Transactional Processing Review and noted an update on the implementation of the APS enterprise resource planning (ERP) approach.

Members agreed the Chief Operating Officers Committee will provide oversight for the ERP pipeline (supported by the Digital Transformation Agency) and the workforce recommendations resulting from the Transactional Processing Review in collaboration with the Heads of Professions. 

Strengthening assurance of digital projects 

Members noted the Department of Finance and the Digital Transformation Agency are working closely to strengthen assurance processes that support successful delivery of digital projects and programs across government. 

The date for the next SDDC meeting is 13 March 2025.